Flora Meets Bug

Dog Person in her element with eight-week old Flora.  Isla was a bit confused by the new creature, but showed no jealousy or ill-will.  Flora is already a complete dog, with all the usual playfulness and curiosity.

Hen Harriers

A windy day at Wicken Fen, and the harriers came in to roost between 4.45 and 5pm.  ISO was 3200, going up to 12800, with a shutter speed of 1/800th.  Even then, the images were under-exposed.  On the way back to the exit we saw a Chinese Water Deer.

Last Day

It dawned windy, and there was the news of Storm Ciara awaiting us in the UK.  We had one last swim and beach lounge before packing and vacating our cabin at noon.  Fisheye pix show Vincia at the beach bar and some of the drinks available.  The palm trees on the path to our cabin - large leaves and chunks of bark fell off regularly!  Finally a pic with Kathleen and Davern, two of the staff who looked after us.

Back to Darkwood Lagoon

Today we were out at 7 a.m. but there were no butterflies on the roost, only some grasshoppers.  We had breakfast and a swim in the sea and after lunch we set out in the heat for our sheltered spot at the lagoon.  The sun was in our favour in the afternoon, and the pelicans fished right in front of us.  They were very fast!  From the top: Grey Kingbird; Pelican (3); Great Egret with fish; four Ruddy Turnstones (same as in Europe); Black-crowned Night Heron flying; Green Heron walking and the Antillean Crested Hummingbird hovering.  At 5 p.m. precisely the sandflies evicted us from our shelter and we walked back to Cocobay.

To The Reef

We'd booked a cruise to Cade's reef for snorkelling.  The shuttle took us to St John's (cathedral of St John shown outside and inside at the top).  However, the wind had got up and the swell was judged too strong for all but experienced swimmers, so Ann and I decided not to go.  The very laid-back rescue boat driver didn't exactly inspire confidence. :-)  So we just had a cruise on a catamaran around a quarter of the island's coast, seeing some very luxurious resorts and also Cocobay from the sea.  The cabana from which we photographed the crabs is that last pic here - 125 seconds at f/8 with the ultra-wide lens.  

Rain at Breakfast

Today we decided on an early breakfast and a walk to the Darkwood Lagoon in cooler weather, but it rained quite heavily and we got wet at our table out under cotton umbrellas when the cotton became soaked.  Did some butterflies after the rain and found a Watts Anole Lizard.   The butterflies are, from the top, Tropical Chequered Skipper; White Peacock; Little Yellow and Monarch.  Then Great Egret with fish, juvenile Brown Pelican and inundated crab.  

St. John's, Antigua

The capital of Antigua and Barbuda.  Every morning three or four cruise liners dock at the tiny port and disgorge thousands of tourists, who spend the day on the island and re-embark at dusk to sail overnight to the next island.  In pic 2 you can see the liner at the end of the street, dwarfing the buildings.  There are a couple of big supermarkets, but most real shops are the size of British corner shops.  Much of the trade is done from roadside stalls by (often Rasta) smallholders selling their produce.  Rastafaris are vegetarian and do not take alcohol or tobacco or participate in Babylon - consumerism as we know it in the West.  They wear the dreadlocks under caps of green, gold, yellow and black and use cannabis. Most of the buildings and houses are wooden, but we saw breeze block construction and metal-framed structures.  The impression is of a 'poor' island, but perhaps needs in a hot climate with good fishing are simpler than in the north European countries.